Preparing Your Loved One’s Home for Sale

Leaving a home that they have lived in for many years can be tough for your parents or loved ones. Getting that home ready for sale after being lived in for decades can be even tougher for you. But even in unpredictable housing markets, when a home is positioned and priced right, the right buyer will come along.

We have worked with some of the most respected realtors in the business to bring you advice on selling your loved one's home that makes it easy on you both. Just follow our Top 10 Tips and you'll find that the process is simpler than you thought.

Top 10 Tips

It's your loved one’s decision

Even if you think a move to a senior living community is in the best interest of your parents or loved one, ultimately it is their choice. While you can't make the decision for them, you can help educate them on why a move would be beneficial, the advantages of senior living and how they can afford it. With open discussions, compassion and patience, you and your loved ones may find yourselves on the same page with a move in their future.

Prepare your loved one for the process

Cleaning out the home they've lived in for decades, remodeling, selling and receiving offers can all be very overwhelming for older adults. Take the time to speak with your loved one about what to expect from the process. This will help them feel apart of the process and will ease some of the fears they have as the move progresses.

Be patient

Moving is stressful at any age but moving as a senior can be extremely emotional. Lots of memories are wrapped up in their house. Keep focused on the positive step the move will be and the great decision they are making. They may move slower, but with patience they will come around.

Get expert help

Working with a realtor will help the process go smoothly. A professional realtor can offer advice on selling for the right price, provide referrals for other services, and give you and your loved one a clearer picture of what to expect during the selling process. Start looking for a realtor early on, interview a few and choose one that both you and your loved one feel most comfortable with. It is important to work with someone you trust. Friendship Village has a Preferred Realtor Network to help find the right realtor for your loved ones. To learn more, call us at 847-490-6271.

Curb appeal

The tendency for most sellers is to focus on the inside of the house, but paying attention to the outside is important, too. First impressions make a difference. If the house is overgrown with bushes, has peeling paint or the sidewalk is cracked, in the buyer’s eyes it's a reflection of how the house is on the inside. Take the time to update the landscaping, clean the yard and fix any repairs on the exterior of the house.

Declutter

Potential buyers want to be able to see themselves living in the house; that means you should remove personal items and clear out as much clutter as possible. Deep cleaning is also important. Since most people will be moving to a smaller home or an apartment, the decluttering process is a great way to prioritize what your loved ones want to take with them, and what can be sold at a garage or estate sale, given away to groups like Salvation Army, Goodwill, local churches, or put in storage. There are also professional services that work specifically with people who are moving to help declutter and stage their home for sale.

Updating

Make sure your home doesn't feel or look outdated. Speak to a realtor to see what changes could be made to increase the value of your home and offer you the best return.

Price according to the market — not memories

One of the common mistakes in selling a home is requesting a selling price that is out of sync with what the house is really worth. Often we price it based on the value the house has to us, based on memories through the years. But true market value is based on the current market, the trends in your area and the condition of the house. This is where a trusted realtor comes in handy. They will help you and your loved one determine the right selling price or suggest updates that may raise the asking price.

Give yourself time

Decluttering, cleaning, updating and working with a realtor all take time. It's important not to rush the process. Sometimes your loved one need to move quickly, but if possible give yourself 2-3 months to prepare their home for sale. This will help make sure you are getting the most bang for your buck.

Don't try to do it all yourself

Preparing your loved one’s home for sale is a big task. And when you add that to your already long list of responsibilities, it's easy to become overwhelmed. Enlist the help of family members and others to help ease the load. There are many professional services you can call on to lend a helping hand — stagers, housecleaning services, realtors, residency counselors from retirement communities and more. Every extra hand can help make selling your loved one's home a lot easier.

Ready to take the next step? To learn more about how Friendship Village can help you and your loved ones Get Set 4 Life®, please call us at 847-490-6271 to speak with a Friendship Village Residency Counselor.